In the world of terracotta vessels, marble sculpture, and bronze adornment that was the Classical world, no material was prized so much as glass. The material itself was rare, and the process of its forging so laborious, that few artisans took the time necessary to develop the skill. It would have required years of experience for a glass-maker to yield a piece of this quality. This piece demonstrates not only an intimate understanding of the glassmaker’s craft but an equally delicate knowledge of the human form. Feel how perfectly the orb-shaped base fits into your hand. Notice how easily and comfortably your finger curves around the supple spout. When we notice how perfectly suited this vessel is for the human touch, it reminds us that this piece of art was created not only for the sake of beauty, but for utility. Imagine the wonderful existence of the Roman aristocrat who possessed this piece. Every cup he drained, every chair he sat upon, every door-handle he turned was crafted with infinite elegance and complete originality. To turn this piece over in our hands is to transport ourselves into a dimension in which every aspect of the ordinary is laced with incomparable beauty, and meticulous grace. While we enshrine magnificent pieces such as this bit of glass, there was once a time where everything in one’s world was of its quality. To possess it is to delicately hold, for the last time, a shred of a world where opulence, creativity, and the pursuit of the rare and exceptional were once as plentiful as glass is in the modern world - (X.0637)